Device for fiber-coating materials and objects



April 26, 1955 R. HUG 2,706,963

DEVICE FOR FIBER-COATING MATERIALS AND OBJECTS Filed April 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 22, 226 24 23 225 223 5 0/| Jfl-l 11 20/" I lf .v k

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I INVENTOR. RudolfHug. B

ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 R HUG 2,706,963

DEVICE FOR FIBER-COATING MATERIALS AND OBJECTS Filed April 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 :1 Illllllllllllhl ATTORNEY R. HUG

April 26, 1955 DEVICE FOR FIBER-COATING MATERIALS'AND OBJECTS Filed April 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- Rudolf Hug.

ATTORNEY wt mm m United States Patent DEVICE FOR FIBER-COATING AND OBJECTS Rudolf Hug, Zurich, Switzerland Application April 12, 1950, Serial No. 155,533 Claims priority, application Switzerland July 5, 1949 2 Claims. (Cl. 11851) MATERIALS My invention relates to methods and apparatus for the fiber-coating (flock-coating) of objects by means of an force causes the fibers to be moved be coated where they and directed toward the object to are held by an adhesive.

The known processes not suitable for producing flock coats on such diversely In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a device for the fiock-coating of various objects of daily use;

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a similar device as part of a continuously operating apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a device for the fibercoating of strings, cords, wires, or the like;

Fig. 4 shows the application of the process according to the invention for fiber-coating a large surface, such as a wall; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show respective apparatus for the fibercoating of plate-like objects.

Referring to Fig. l, the ing 11 which encloses rectlfying and filtenng circuit comcomponents of this source comprise a transformer 111, a rectifier tube 112 and filtering means composed of a choke coil 113, a condenser 114, and resistors 115. A connectenergize the rectifier from an A. C. power line, for instance, of 200 v. under control by a switch 13 joined with a pilot lamp 14. A terminal board 15 is provided for the internal connections of the device.

the potential source. on which the fibers rest preferably consist of, or is provided with, sheet metal. For reasons of safety, the edge of the fiber container 19 preferably consists of insulating material.

is as follows: The object When switch 13 is turned on, the line voltage is applied to the source of potential and an electric field is produced bedistance of the object 2,706,963 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 shown in Flg. l) to move towardsthe adhesive-coated where they are held. As the bottom 191 conlines of force emerge essentially vertically from the bottom 191 which acts as an electrode. The elongated fibers are aligned in the direction of the electric field and strike the object 17 with one end so that the fiber-coated areas assume a velvet, velour or suede-like appearance according to the fiber material employed.

It has been previously mentioned that the connection 18 preferably consists of a highly conductive lead. Since currents of only a few mil iamperes are required for fibercoating such objects, a high-resistance between the one pole 16 and the object to be fiber-coated will sufiice depending upon the voltage. Thus the human body may serve as connecting lead, one pole of the potential source being grounded and the object to be fibercoated being moved towards the other electrode by hand until the fibers jump across to the object. The preferable 17 from the other electrodes, e. g. is dependent on the potential. With a kv. this preferable distance is approxithe bottom 191, potential of 5-20 The device described is preferably designed as a porthuman body serves as a connecting lead between this pole and the objects to be fiber-coated. The device described may also be equipped with a structure for holding the object to be the required fiber density.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 is suitable for continuously fiber-coating individual duced articles. guide rolls 201 is moved by driving means (not shown) 1n the direction indicated by an arrow. The objects 21 (mass-produced articles) to be fiber-coated are suspended from conveyor. The conveyor 20 consists of a highly conductive material, such as a steel wire. The connection between the object 21 to be fiber-coated and the (not shown), the other pole applied to the fiber container. the fiber-coating be fiber-coated having previously been coated with adhesive. The application of the adhesive may be effected pp g. method the adh objects to the conveyor 20.

objects 21 pass into operation stage B where they are fiber container 41 preferably comprises upwardly difiber-coated. The conveyor carrying the objects passes rected compartments 44 of the lattice-blind type for holdinto the tunnel-shaped open-ended box 225. On actuaing the fibers 45. In this manner, the fibers can be pretion of the rake-like device 223 by the driving means vented from inadvertently dropping out of the container. 224, the fibers lying in the container 221 fall through 5 To facilitate collecting any such fibers, a collector dethe perforated bottom 226 into the interior of the box vice 43 may be provided, consisting, for instance, of where they are moved towards the objects by the electric paper or cardboard, which also collects the fibers not field produced between the fiber container and the object. adhering to the wall. In order to secure a highly homo- Since the fibers are charged in the electric field when fallgeneous field between the fiber container and the wall, ing, the object to be coated is impinged upon by fibers it is advisable to make the container of insulating Inanot only from above, but also from the sides and from terial and to line its bottom with metal.

below. Hence all surfaces of the object 21 are coated The apparatus shown in Fig. 5 has a hollow table practically simultaneously. The falling excess fibers are structure 51 whose interior 52 is connected with a. suction caught by the fiber collector 222 from which they may blower 53. The table plate 54 supporting the object to be returned from time to time to the fiber container 221. be fiber-coated is provided with holes (not shown) in After being coated, the fiber-coated objects are suba sieve-like manner so that the object to be fiber-coated jected to the third operation in stage C. Here the obadheres to the plate 54 when the suction blower 53 is in jects are dried, for instance in a heating and drying stove operation. The table structure 51 can be rotated at of any design known for such purposes, the drying being least 180 about a pivot 511 so that the table top plate accomplished by any source of heat, such as electricity, 0 54 may be turned upwards. The table structure, together steam, hot water, infra-red rays or the like. with the suction blower, is mounted on a wheeled frame The fourth operation, in stage C, comprises the removal 56 which can be reciprocated on a base 561 in the direcof the non-adherent fibers. To this end a device 24 is tion of the double arrow. Mounted on the base is a employed in which compressed air produced by a fan, device 57 for the application of adhesive to the object to is passed along the fibercoated objects at a predetermined 2 be fiber-coated. Device 57 has a rubber roller 571 which speed thus blowing off any loose or loosely adherent applies the adhesive in an even layer to the object when fibers. The outgoing air, which contains excess fibers, the table, in the position illustrated is moved past the may be passed through a dust separator (not shown) in device to the right. An intermediate roller 572 transfers which the fibers are caught for subsequent use. the adhesive from a container 573 to the rubber roller Lastly, in the fifth stage E of the operation, the fiber- 3 571. To secure a satisfactory application and distribucoated and finished objects are removed from the contion of the adhesive on the object to be fiber-coated, the veyor peripheral speed of the rubber roller 571 is difierent from Such continuously operating apparatus for the fiockthe speed of the table brushing past the roller A fiber coating of individual objects, of course, may be direcervmgtable 581, serving as the flock receptacle during fied in various ways without departing from the process 39 t hoeklng operatlon, is mounted on a fram 58 an principle of having the object to be coated directly conis ad ustable in height so that the distance between the t d ith one pole f th potential source, moved-in table structure 51 and the fiber table 581 may I th ratu according to Fi 3, the materi l t be ad usted as desired. A fiber storage container 582 is be fiber-coated such as an insulated strand 30, passes from f g 011 the op of the frame 58 and is equipped a supply you 31 through an adhesive container 32, A Vtflth a fiber rake 583. The bottom Of container 582 C011- scraper 33 serves to remove the excess adhesive, which SistS of perforated sheet metal, e. g. a sieve or wire drops back into container 32. Mounted on top of a funmesh- T fihel' Take 583 y be similarly constructed nel-like box 34 is a fiber container 341 with a perforated and feclproeated manually thechanicauy- The P' bottom 342. A movable, rake-like device 343, arranged reeatmg move e t of the fiber rake causes the fibers to in the fiber container, may be mechanically or manually Showeh Onto the fiber-receiving table 531 80 t t h reciprocated by means of a drive member 344. When the letter 15 evenly Y A funnel-Shaped Collector 584 rake-like device is actuated, the fibers 35 shower downat'the hottotn Pottloh t frame 58 serves to guide Overward through the funnel. The entire box 34 is electrifiOW h 8 n h r 5- The D. C. or A. C. ll i l o of h potential source h potentlal requlred for the electric field is connected to is connected to the fiber container 341. The other pole e fihef-l'eeeiYing table 581 0 the n hand and to the is connected with strand 30. Hence the fiber container l pp table 51 011 the h r hand. The elec- 341 and the fibers contained therein are under voltage, the Connections may he Such t the Potential is ppl so that the fibers when showering downward in the funonly when the ttjtble strhctulje p e y met/ed 111t0 nel-like box 34 are caused by the electric field between the ttatne when 1t 15 In the POSltlOh Indicated the strand 30 and container 341 to move toward the y dot-dash lihes- The Plate 54 f table t tur 51 strand 30, where they are held by one end on the and the fiber table 581 are then opposlte and parallel to hesive-coated surface. The loose fibers, i. e. the fibers not each Othere connection of the Source Q Potential attracted by the strand 30, fall into the fiber collector may he ettefited 111 anY kneWn manner and 18 th refore 345 which must be emptied from time to time. not Shown 1n the drawlng- In a manner similar to that described in Fig. 2, the 60 The opetatlen Q h devlee 1 as f llows: fiber-coated strand emerging from box 34 is dried in a The flock matenal 15 Pt J the fihet eontalnef drier 35, subsequently freed from loose fibers by passing P the fiber takels reelprpqated. The 'e m Vethrough a suction box 37, and finally wound up on the meht may be coupled Wlth the tlltlng and moving of the take-up reel 38. table structure 51 so that the fiber table 581 is automati- While the details of this apparatus may also be given catty ehal'ged Wlth fleck after each ceatlng Operationvarious modifications, the essential principle again lies Due h Take movement, the fibers l through the in the fact that the strand-like object to be fiber-coated Openlngs 111 the bottom of the fiber t aln r 532 onto is connected with one pole of the potential source, so that the fiber, table and FP the table In an e y the field attracting the fibers has a particularly high de- In the thopetatlve Posltloh of the F practically no gree of intgnsity fibers will fall on the fiber table. It is advisable to allow Fi 4 shows h h process according to the the fiber table 581 to hold ust the amount of fibers necesvention may be applied for the fiber-coating of walls. Y t one fiber-chafing opel'atlonn the l The numeral 40 designates a perpendicular n coated mentioned charging of the flock table 581 with material,

with adhesive, 41 denotes a portable fiber container with the table t 51 is tilted by from the illusone or more handles. One pole of the potential source hated Poslttoh so that the Plate 54 faces P NOW (not shown) is connected to the adhesive-coated wall the Sheet toll-Shaped ohleet to e ed is placed 40. The other pole is connected with the top of a footon the table Plate 5 and h Shetlen er is Switched stool 42 which is insulted from the floor. It may, how- The t h 51 15 then tllted back 1 lnte t 111118- ever, also be connected directly with the fiber container hated Posltlon- The, the fiber'ctfatlng table moved 41. In the latter case, the insulated foot-stool 42 is no 80 toward the fihel' table 531thus Passlhg the adheslve pp longer necessary, provided the handle of h fib cator 57 so that the surface to be fiber-coated is covered tainer 41 is insulated. The electric field now exists bewith adhesive by rubber roller 571. When the table 51 tween the fiber container and the wall, so that the fibers has reached its extreme position in the frame 58, the move horizontally from the fiber container towards the electric potential is applied. The electric field then prowall, being held there by one end by the adhesive. The 35 duced between the object table 51 and the fiber table 581 causes the fibers to fly from the fiber table 581 to the adhesive-coated object on plate 54. The fibers, longitudinally aligned in accordance with the electric field, to the object to be fiber-coated. Thereafter the table 51 is removed from the frame 58, the adhesive application 57 then being lowered by means not shown so that the rubber roller 571 stays clear of the fiber-coated object. On arrival at its initial position, the table 51 is tilted upward, the suction blower switched off, and the fiber-coated object may now be removed from the plate 54. The device is now set for another fiber-coating operation. The fiber-coated sheet is dried and subjected to the action of a suction device to remove any loosely adherent fibers.

It is advisable to employ a highly homogeneous electric a field, the top of the object-supporting table 51, i. e., the plate 54, is provided with a metal surface connected with one pole of the potential source. Similarly it may be advisable to provide the surface of the fiber-receiving table 581 with a metal surface connected with the other pole of the potential source. metal surfaces may consist of sheet metal or of metallized coatings. As previously mentioned, it may be preferable to dry the fiber-coated object immediately after the coating operation and to remove loosely adherent fibers therefrom. The devices for these operations are prefer- The examples descri Apparatus of the type described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 are capable of producing an evenly distributed fiber coat on sheet or foil-shaped objects in a simple manner and a minimum of time. The good results obcoated objects, comprising a housing structure having an ably mounted together with the flocking devices described.

In order to prevent the fibers fed from the fiber-showering device from falling beside the fiber table, a screen (not shown) may be provided.

For each application, the most advantageous distance between the plate 54 and the upper surface of the fiber table 581 can be determined by sample tests. Apart from the potential, some of the facts determining the most favorable distance are the length and weight of the fiber material used, and the density of the coating desired.

The tilting of the object-supporting table 51 may be coupled with a fiber rake in container 582 so that the rake is moved with each tilting of the former table to loosen the fibers in the storage container.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 differs from that of Fig. 5 by having the fiber receiving table designed as a fiber storing container. This permits several simplifications in apparatus design. According to Fig. 6 the object-supporting table structure 60 has a perforated top plate 61 for receiving the objects to be flock coated. An electric contact piece 62 is attached to the table. A

structure through a suction nozzle 64 about whose axis to the position shown by broken lines. The table structure is linked through connecting rods to a rake-like device 661 in a fiber container 66 which is insulated from ground by a support 662. Leads 671 and 672 serve to connect 5 the apparatus to the potential source (not shown) supplying, for instance, a D. C. potential. After the object to be fiber-coated is placed on the table top plate 61, the suction blower 63 is switched on thus holding the object on plate 61. Then the table is turned 180 so 60 1 788 600 that it lies above the fiber container 66 The connecting 2047525 rods 65 cause the rake 661 in the fiber container 66 to 2173078 be moved with every tilting motion of the table so that 2174328 the fibers are prevented from felting. When the table 2187306 60 is fully tilted, the contact piece 62 establishes con 65 2258092 tact with lead 671 and hence with one pole of the po- 2279361 tential source. As a fiber container 66 is connected 2356489 through lead 672 with the other pole of the potential, an 2376922 electric field is produced between table and container, 2447374 so that the fibers are attracted from the fiber container 70 2548872 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smyser Jan. 13, Thode July 14, Meston Sept. 12, Meston Sept. 26, Formhals Jan. 16, Fogg Oct. 7, Amstuz Apr. 14, Amstuz Aug. 22, King May 29, Smyser Aug. 17, Cross Apr. 17,

to said conductor, above said receptacle, whereby the object is coated with flock when held above said receptacle. 2. Apparatus for applying fibrous flock to adhesively able and disposed in said housing, said step-up means having two poles of respectively different electric potentials for providing an elec- 

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FIBROUS FLOCK TO ADHESIVELY COATED OBJECTS, COMPRISING A HOUSING STRUCTURE HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TOP WALL, SAID WALL FORMING A CONTINUOUS SHEET AND FORMING AN UPWARDLY OPEN PAN-SHAPED RECEPTACLE FOR FIBROUS STOCK ON SAID TOP WALL, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POTENTIAL DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING STRUCTURE AND HAVING TWO POLES, ONE OF SAID POLES BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID TOP WALL, AND A FLEXIBLE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR FOR CONNECTING THE OTHER POLE WITH AN OBJECT, SAID CONDUCTOR BEING LONG ENOUGH TO PERMIT HOLDING AN OBJECT, ATTACHED TO SAID CONDUCTOR, ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE, WHEREBY THE OPJECT IS COATED WITH FLOCK WHEN HELD ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE. 